Communitywide Disaster Drill

The City’s Annual Disaster Drill will take place on the same day as the Great California ShakeOut, the 3rd Thursday in October at 7:00 p.m. The next drill will take place on Thursday, October 17, 2019.

Disasters can strike quickly and without warning. They can force you to evacuate your neighborhood or confine you to your home or work place. Events, such as September 11, hurricanes on the East Coast, and recent California wildfires, are powerful reminders that not only our Fire and Police Departments need to be prepared – we all do!

While the City has plans in place for a disaster, it is important that each individual who lives or works in the City does as well. And just as fire and police personnel practice their disaster plan, each individual must also. On the Great California Shake Out Drill Day there will be a community-wide disaster drill. The purpose of this drill is to give you an opportunity to prepare and practice your “disaster plan.” Moreover, it will give us – as a community – an opportunity to practice together. If we all cooperate and work together as a team, we can minimize the effects of a major disaster.

There are three components to this drill:

1. Establish and Practice Your Disaster Plan

Your Disaster Plan is a scenario-driven plan that you prepare with your family that allows you to discuss in advance what each of you will do should a disaster strike. Create a disaster plan now.

2. The OK Sign Program

Following a major disaster, emergency personnel will conduct search and rescue efforts. Given our resources will likely be overwhelmed initially, it is imperative that you do your part to assist us by verifying that everyone in your home is “okay” and by placing your OK Sign in a location most visible from the public right-of-way (e.g., front door, window, garage door). This will let us know you and your family are okay and we can go directly to those who need immediate attention. Download your OK Sign or pick one up from the Community Risk Reduction Division at City Hall. Be sure to keep your OK Sign in an easily accessible location. If, when disaster strikes, you cannot access this sign, create your own by simply writing “OK” in large letters on a piece of paper. In an emergency, you often must improvise and make do with what you have.

Participation in this drill is simple! On the day of the Great California ShakeOut, at 7:00 p.m., do two things. First, activate your Disaster Plan (i.e., practice what you will do in the event of a disaster). Second, place your OK Sign in a location most visible from the public right-of-way.

We especially encourage families with young children to participate. This is a great opportunity to teach your children where to go, what to expect, and how to behave in case of an emergency. Being prepared and practicing your plan can serve to minimize much of the fear often experienced when disaster strikes.

While we hope that we never have a disaster of any magnitude, we want to be sure if we do that we are all prepared and able to work together effectively. In order to do so, it is essential to have a disaster plan in place and to practice the plan. We encourage you and your family to participate in this important Community-Wide Disaster Drill. For more information, contact the Fire Department at (310) 253-5900.

3. Community Response Teams

On October 17, 2019, at 7:00 p.m., the Culver City Fire Department, the Culver City Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) and the Culver City Amateur Radio Emergency Services Team (CCARES) will activate for the 14th Annual Culver City Community-Wide Disaster Drill.

We will simulate three disasters in different parts of the City to practice our skills. Some of the many activities our community response teams will practice are saving mock victims, activating search teams, practicing first aid and setting up triage stations. We will share the mock disaster locations via Everbridge on the night of the drill. Keep an eye out for our emergency volunteers and first responders! Say hello, observe them in action, or volunteer to be a victim!

Consider joining CERT or CCARES to participate in future drills. CERT and CCARES are comprised of Culver City resident volunteers trained by experienced peers and the Culver City Fire Department in disaster preparedness, fire safety and utility controls, disaster medical operations, light search and rescue operations and disaster psychology.

Sign up for Nixle notifications. The City uses Nixle, a Mass Emergency Notification System, to notify residents and businesses of emergencies or critical situations and provide information regarding necessary actions, such as evacuations. It has the ability to notify you via phone, text and/or email.

Thank you in advance for your participation!
Your Emergency Responders